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Crysencio Summerville is coming good on the challenge that former West Ham United technical director Tim Steidten set him back in 2024.
While Steidten’s time at West Ham United is not remembered fondly, some of the signings he made during his tenure have started to prove their worth.
The Dutchman is a case in point. Indeed, Summerville is emerging as one of the best players in the Premier League right now, helping the Hammers dream of safety.
When was the last time a West Ham player excited you so much?! 😍
Credit: Getty Images/Rob Newell – CameraSport
Summerville’s career has been a slow-burn here in east London, but a challenge set by Steidten is finally being met.
Steidten told Summerville to prove he’s a success at West Ham
Back in 2024, The Athletic suggested that Steidten had urged Summerville to prove himself a success at West Ham, citing Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez as examples of players who kicked on after joining West Ham.
Steidten is understood to have told Summerville that “being average would not be good enough” and that there was a need for the winger to “develop into a top-tier signing.”
OK, this might actually be happening… 🤯
Image this; West Ham stay up at Spurs’ expense!
Though Steidten’s comments on Kudus and Alvarez have not aged particularly well, Summerville is now starting to live up to that conversation, one held on a private jet between the two on their way to London from Amsterdam.
Though there are several heroes at West Ham right now, Summerville is undoubtedly the leading light.
What Tim Steidten said when West Ham signed Crysencio Summerville
Steidten was delighted when West Ham signed Summerville, following his move from Leeds in the summer of 2024.
The winger has starred at Elland Road but proved hugely ineffective in their play-off final defeat to Southampton at the end of the 2023-24 campaign.
Photo by Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
West Ham then won the race to sign him and reportedly paid around £25million for his services.
Speaking to West Ham’s official website at the time, Steidten said: “We feel Crysencio will enhance our existing depth in the attacking third. He is an exciting player with blistering pace, agile movement and an abundance of creativity off the wing. He has already proved himself in English football, having been a key player for Leeds United in both the Premier League and Championship over the last few years.
“This signing is another statement of intent from the Club. With the support of the Board, we continue to work efficiently to evolve our squad ahead of the beginning of the 2024/25 Premier League season. Adding young players with the pedigree of Crysencio will help us to reach our potential moving forwards.
“We are all confident that Crysencio has a bright future ahead and we look forward to seeing him continue to go from strength to strength in Claret and Blue.”
Summerville is certainly starting to come good on those comments and just at the right time.
Perhaps it shows that signings do really need time to settle…
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